Cyrus Langhorne
Former Murder Inc. rapper Ja Rule recently talked about the publicized Baltimore, Maryland riots and explained why the Freddie Gray controversy is a global problem.
In Rule’s opinion, a leader is needed to help promote peace and address the widespread injustice.
“I think it’s a very sad situation what’s going on in Baltimore. It’s not just Baltimore. I think it’s going on throughout the country. And with what’s going on in our urban communities with the police, I think it just needs to—Somebody needs to be the peacemaker. To bring it all together. To make things better on that front. And I don’t know who’s the guy to do it. I don’t know who’s gonna step up and be our leader…But as long as we keep marching peacefully, I think that’s the best way for us to get our point across.” (“Fox Business”)
Last week, charges were handed out to the six officers that arrested Gray.
State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby declared that Freddie Gray’s death was a homicide, his arrest was illegal, and his treatment in custody amounted to murder and manslaughter. Onlookers began to cheer and then express amazement over Mosby’s announcement, which few expected so quickly. “The findings of our comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation coupled with the medical examiner’s determination that Mr. Gray’s death was a homicide,” Mosby said, “we have probable cause to file criminal charges.” (ABC News)
According to CNN affiliate WJLA, Gray’s placement in a police van after being arrested ultimately cost him his life.
The sources quoted by the Washington-based station said the medical examiner had determined Gray’s death was caused by a catastrophic injury after he slammed into the back of the police transport van while inside it, “apparently breaking his neck; a head injury he sustained matches a bolt in the back of the van.” The station said it was unclear what caused Gray to slam into the back of the van and whether Gray caused the injury. (CNN)
Reports claimed cops made an unaccounted stop with Gray before arriving to the police station.
The Baltimore police on Thursday handed over to prosecutors the results of their much-anticipated initial investigation into the fatal injury suffered by a young man in their custody, including the discovery that a police van carrying the man made a previously undisclosed stop en route to a police station. The new stop turned up on video taken from “a privately owned camera,” said the deputy police commissioner, Kevin Davis. He added that it was “previously unknown to us,” but he did not elaborate. (NY Times)
Where is Ja ?!!?!?! *Dave Chapelle voice*
I don’t wanna dance, I’m scared to death
Why are we always looking for a leader.
We need them. Not necessarily just one, but white people have their leaders (Congressmen, presidents, mayors, governors, CEOS, etc.) We have little significant representation in places and positions of power. We do need a vanguard.
Why would Africans simulate a system that has historically been responsible for rape, murder and mayhem. This whole political structure in this country is corrupt and needs a major upheaval.
Nowhere did I say we should simulate their system. To have a leader or vanguard is not a European or American invention. I’m saying we need a vanguard as we have no real leadership and our oppressors have lead roles in positions of influence of power. We need to establish a qaulified leadership to combat them.
The only way to achieve a productive and positive leadership academy is to first be willing to take a self examination of where we are as a people. Sad to say that some of us have become too comfortable with the establishment treatment of excepting the environmental conditions that they forced down our throats. So until we’re ready to educate our children the proper way as far as teaching them about strategically building an economic strong hold by refusing to be so frivolous with dollars outside of their communities then everything else is background noise.
No. Everything else isn’t just background noise. Economic boycotts help and are necessary but they are not a means to an end. Refusing to do business outside of your community will not alone cure racism, classism, police brutality, criminal injustice system, the war on drugs, the prison industrial complex, and the other byproducts of white supremacy and capitalist culture. It would help greatly but we already did that with Black Wall Street and they bombed us out. We did it with The Black Panther Party for Self Defense and the community programs and they gunned us down. We did that with Garvey’s UNIA and they corrupted his organization. There has to be a defense unit, an impervious, impenetrable fortified structure in place to prevent external enemy infiltration and penetration.
The successful defense units through out history have come via offensive aggression. So be careful because if defeated you’re structure could be charge with Treason in the aftermath of the fallout.
It can include that but doesn’t have to be limited to that. In 2015 we can think up other ways in addition to that.
For a free Black cat their very existence is rooted in “treason” or “sedition” as existence as a free Black man or woman in America would call on them to advocate, endorse, participate in, support, and push for that which is in direct contrast to what America has planned for her melinated children.
Where’s 2pac when you need em?
Tupac as our leader? Nah. He could have become a great leader but he would have needed more training and education.